Date: May 18, 2025
Admission: FREE!
Time: Noon - 6pm
Cherry Blossom Festival Fort Wayne
A program of the Japanese American Association of Indiana (JAAI)
ACTIVITIES - CONTESTS
ANIME DRAWING CONTEST
Location: Skybridge on the 2nd floor between Walb Student Union and Helmke Library
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Draw a favorite anime character or create original art. Prizes will be awarded for fan art and original art in several age categories (elementary school age children through adult).
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Artworks must be drawn at the festival on the provided paper. No tracing or light boards, please. Seating is limited. Drawing time will be from noon to 3:30 PM.
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Winners will be announced at 5:15 PM in the International Ballroom.
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Click HERE to see the 2024 winners!
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People can pick up artworks and prizes if applicable in June and July in the Main Library Teen Department. Artworks that were not selected are available now.
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Photocopies of winning artworks will be displayed in the Main Library Teen department in June and July. Photocopies are displayed to protect against theft or vandalism. It also allows winning artworks to be returned sooner.
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​COSPLAY CONTEST
Register online or at the Walb Student Union side of the Skybridge - Noon to 3:30.
Mustering of the participants for the Competition will begin at 4:30 at the back of the International Ballroom. The Competition itself will begin at 4:45.
Location: International Ballroom.
Cosplay, a contraction of “costume play”, is a performance art in which participants wear costumes to represent a specific character, often manga or anime, and interact to express their characters. To participate, wear your costume for the duration of the festival, sign up at the festival for the contest, and then take your turn onstage to express your character. Prizes will be awarded.
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All entrants will be photographed, and photographs may be used for future promotions.
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​Click HERE to see the 2023 Cosplay contest winners.
COSPLAY CONTEST RULES
•All entrants in the Cosplay Competition must be related to some facet of Japanese culture (manga, anime, historical, cultural, J-Pop/J-Rock, video games, etc.)
•Entrants will be judged on three criteria: costume, presentation and style. Costume is based on the quality of the costume and how well it matches the character being presented. Presentation is based on the quality of the stage presentation. Style is based on how well the entrant reproduces or recreates the character being presented.
•Past first place winners may not compete in subsequent caompetitions using the same winning costume.
•Group entries are limited to 6 people maximum: only one form is needed per group.
•Presentations are limited to 30 seconds.
•Presentations, including language and thematic content, must be limited to a PG rating.
•All decisions of the judges are final.
•Please do not leave anything on stage when you exit.
•NO FIRE OR LIVE STEEL OR OTHER REALISTIC WEAPONS ON STAGE
HAIKU WRITING CONTEST
Students of all ages from elementary through college may participate in the Cherry Blossom Festival Haiku contest. Classes should email their entries before April 22.. Visit the Haiku Room, (TBD) until 4:15 to write and submit a haiku to be considered for the on-site award. Winners may read their haikus and receive monetary awards at 5:15 in the ballroom.
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Click HAIKU for more details. For questions, please contact the Haiku chairman at blockhead115@gmail.com..
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Click HERE to see the 2024 Haiku Finalists.
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